Durbin, Kirk want to talk to BP about oil spill

CHICAGO — Illinois' U.S. senators have asked for a meeting with BP after oil from the company's northwest Indiana refinery spilled into Lake Michigan.

U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk sent a letter to BP CEO John Minge on Thursday. In the letter the senators say they're "deeply concerned" about the spill. They say they want to talk with Minge about potential public health and environmental threats to surrounding communities.

The spill was reported Monday afternoon by BP, which has a sprawling refinery in Whiting, Ind., about 20 miles south of downtown Chicago.

The U.S. Coast Guard says an initial BP estimate shows between nine and 18 barrels of crude oil entered the lake.

The EPA says the spill isn't expected to affect municipal water supplies that draw on the lake.